LAS VEGAS
Organizers of IMEX America, the October 14-16 tradeshow designed for the global meetings, events and incentive travel industry, have announced that 76 percent of all professional education on offer at this year’s show will be industry-accredited.
They expect this will add further value to the show’s free-to-attend education program, which surrounds the core appointment-driven trade show.
Having reviewed all 180 of the show’s education sessions, the Convention Industry Council (CIC) has designated 76 percent as qualifying for continuing education hours.
This means that all IMEX America participants can accrue points or clock hours towards CMP exams or CMP recertification while attending sessions on the preshow education day, Smart Monday–powered by MPI–or over the following three days of the trade show.
ISES Accreditation
In addition, ISES (the International Special Events Society) a relatively new education partner for the show, has also approved 34 of the show’s education sessions for its ISES Core Curriculum. ISES Approved is the new international education standard selected for the creative event professional, and has been developed to recognize specific content that has significance for the creative event industry.
MPI Education
The show’s strategic partner and main education provider, MPI, will also be offering a total of 43 education sessions during the show with 31 taking place on Smart Monday–powered by MPI. They include daily keynotes, four deep dives and MPI's Healthcare Meeting Compliance Certificate (HMCC) course. Approximately 81 percent of the MPI sessions offered at IMEX America are eligible for clock hours.
All education at the show will be delivered across 11 tracks this year, with "diversity," "health & well-being" and "senior planner,'" being all new for 2014.
Additional Education
Three new learning styles have also been added on the Inspiration Center on the show floor (sponsored by Business Events Sydney), which expands the number of formats available to participants. No booking is required as all classes are offered on a drop-in basis.
The new options include a Creative Zone, where the emphasis will be on facilitated ‘play’ as a tool for unlocking creativity and business innovation; Hot Topic Tables for peer-to-peer discussions about the latest industry issues and a Meet The Expert Clinics for one to one consultancies with industry experts and speakers. IMEX has also increased capacity by adding a second seminar theatre on the Inspiration Center.
These complement the Tech Hub (sponsored by DoubleDutch), a specialized area for technology education as well as hands-on experimentation with new products, and the Sustainability Hub, powered by GMIC (Green Meeting Industry Council), which is home to all green meetings and events information and education on the show floor.
Support for the Meetings Mean Business Coalition
IMEX America is also working with the US Travel Association to highlight the Meetings Mean Business Coalition (MMBC). All three of the Coalition’s "Pillars" – Personal Connections, Positive Business Outcomes and Building Strong Communities – are being actively promoted and supported through the show’s education program.
Special Programs for Association and Corporate Planners
As usual, an Association Focus program (on Smart Monday) will also deliver specially-crafted education and networking for up to 200 association meeting planners and senior executives.
There will also be a private event for corporate meetings executive and senior corporate event planners. The Executive Meeting Forum takes place over two half-days and provides 30 or more corporate executives with an opportunity to update their industry knowledge and share learning with their peers, all under the guidance of experienced facilitators.
Both groups then attend the trade show for at least one or two days afterwards.
Among the hundreds of education seminars, campfires and workshops taking place this year are:
- Making the Most of PCO Partnerships for Global Meetings by PCMA and IAPCO.
- Hotel Contracts: Plan and Think Before You Ink by Meeting Sites Resources.
- Change Your Destiny by Kirsty Spraggon.
- Top 10 Apps When You Are OOO (Out of Office) by SPIN.
- Smart Meeting Planners @ Work: Lose Your Assumptions When Hosting Abroad and Win Big by the German Convention Bureau.
- You’re Hired – Powerful Interview Techniques to Get That Job by MCI.
- The Zen of Meetings – Applied Mindfulness for Meetings Professionals by Sagatica.
- 10 Predictions for Meetings in the Next 20 Years by the Meeting Design Institute.
- Activate it! The Newest Buzz Word in Meetings Sponsorship by Play with a Purpose
For more information regarding IMEX America 2014, please visit www.imexamerica.com/.
